Do you have your tickets for Art Mingle? No?! There's no better time than right now to secure your spot at this artful fundraising event, set for May 31 at SNW Gallery and Union Hall, 328 Poyntz Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Art Mingle 2024: Poyntz of View, presented by Community First National Bank, promises to be a delightful evening in the HEART of downtown Manhattan. Your ticket includes savory and sweet food stations, libations, and lively music! This event benefits Meadowlark Memory Program.

Thank you, Manhattan! At the conclusion of a reconciliation process following an annual 24 hours of giving sponsored by Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, event organizers proudly announced three eye-opening numbers. The 12th annual Grow Green Match Day on April 22 attracted 7149 gifts to 91 non-profit organizations totaling $1,773,601.69!

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 31! Meadowlark Foundation’s art-related fundraiser is moving from Prairie Star Restaurant to a different venue with two new partnerships. Art Mingle: Poyntz of View, which benefits the Meadowlark Memory Program, begins at 6:30 p.m. at 328 Poyntz Ave. This location in the HEART of downtown Manhattan is home to SNW Gallery & Custom Frames and Union Hall, which are located inside the historic, 127-year-old Eames Building.

On Feb. 14 about 25 years ago, Meadowlark resident Marion Pelton, a retired professor of music at Kansas State University and longtime supporter of the arts, walked into the chief executive officer’s office with a rose and an envelope. According to then CEO Steve Shields, his first thought was that Pelton, a friend and mentor, was bringing him a Valentine’s Day remembrance, but when he opened the envelope, he found a signed check.

“What is this for?” Shields asked.

“This is Our Happy Place.” A custom-made, wooden sign crafted by Meadowlark resident Steve Hall hangs at Meadowlark Market, and the words seem to aptly describe the feelings of those associated with the monthly fundraiser. Happy donors, happy customers, and happy volunteers have helped to create another successful year in terms of awareness of and funds raised for Meadowlark Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund.

The Meadowlark Travelers' holiday-themed getaway last week included one ark, two eye-catching light displays, three entrees at a private, catered dinner, and more decorated trees than we could count. Twenty-six residents and Passport members, as well as friends and family members joined Monte Spiller, Resident Services Leader, and Becky Fitzgerald, Development Director, on a six-day tour with meal, hotel, and/or attraction stops in six states: Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. 

Oink! Now that the calendar has flipped to October, temperatures are cooling, but activities to benefit Meadowlark Foundation are heating up. It’s HOGTOBERFEST season, and here are a few squeal-worthy announcements! 

No. 1 – The 10th annual HOGTOBERFEST, an awareness and fundraising event to benefit Meadowlark Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27! 

No. 2 – Meadowlark’s Prairie Star Restaurant and Event Venue is this year’s celebration location! 

No. 3 – 10 days of food specials are planned to mark the event’s 10-year anniversary! 

After an absence in 2022, Art Mingle, the primary fundraiser for Meadowlark Memory Program, returned to Meadowlark Foundation’s opportunities calendar this spring. Prairie Star Restaurant and Event Venue was lively with the sounds of music, conversation, and laughter during a 5th event on April 28.

Art Mingle: Wonder & Whimsy attracted about 140 guests and volunteers, several of whom had not seen the event venue and/or had not been to a prior Art Mingle.

Hip! Hip! HOORAY!! The 11th annual Grow Green Match Day, hosted April 21 by Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, was Meadowlark Foundation’s best ever in terms of the number of contributions received. According to the Leaderboard at growgreenmanhattan.com, 88 friends of Meadowlark contributed a whopping $51,667 to benefit our Nursing Scholarship Program.

Art you ready to Mingle? In addition to fabulous food, live music, and an ARTFul Memories exhibit, Art Mingle: Wonder & Whimsy features tempting live and silent auction items, as well as a raffle prize. The event committee began preparations last fall and look forward to a fun and successful evening next Friday, April 28, to benefit Meadowlark Memory Program.